Selected Biographies

Ives, Arthur Abraham – Born: Glemsford, Suffolk on 30.1.1878.[1] Parents: Charles Ives of Pentlow, Essex (Coconut Mat Weaver) and Elizabeth [née Hammond]. Family Connections: Brother to Frederick Ives [b1887] and uncle of Victor Reginald Ives [b1916]. Home: Station Road, Long Melford (1881). Occupation: Merchant Seaman [1908 to 1918]. Married: Ada Marrow in 1900. Service Record: Arthur enlisted in 1897 as Stoker No.285974 with the Royal Navy.[2] After leaving the navy in 1906 he joined the Merchant Navy serving throughout the First World War until 1918.[3]

Ives, Percy Walter Eagle – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 23.6.1876.[4]  Parent: Louisa Ann Ives (Servant to Walter Eagle (Farmer at Belchamp St Paul, Essex).  Family Connections: Brother-in-law of Henry William Salter [b1874].  Home: Living with George Reynolds (uncle) in Hall Street, Long Melford (1881), living with Bertie Reynolds (cousin) in Hamilton Road, Ramsey, Essex (1891), living with George Reynolds (uncle) in Hall Street, Long Melford (1901),[5] Hall Street, Long Melford (1911), 21 Kings Quay Street, Harwich, Essex (1921), 25 Birch Avenue, Harwich [1925] to (1939), 42 Highland Road, Norwich, Norfolk [1965].  Occupation: Coconut Mat Weaver (1901), Baker (1911), Baker and Shopkeeper [1916],[6] Dock Porter for the Great Eastern Railway at Parkston Quay, Harwich (1921 to 1939).  Married: Florence Salter of Long Melford in 1901. Service Record: At the Melford Military Service Tribunal in October 1916 an exemption granted to Percy in June was challenged by the Military Representative, this was refused by the Appeal Tribunal and Ives original exemption was made conditional.  The actual condition is not stated.[7]  Although no definitive military record has been found, Percy may have attested as Pte.202780 with 5^th [Reserve] Battalion, East Surrey Regiment.  If this assumption is correct then he transferred to 7^th [Service] Battalion, then 9^th [Service] Battalion, East Surreys.  These two latter battalions both served on the Western Front.[8]  Died: Vale Hospital Swainsthorpe, Norwich, Norfolk on 18.1.1965.[9]

Ives, Frederick ‘Fred’ – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 11.11.1887.[10] Parents: Charles Ives of Pentlow, Essex (Coconut Mat Weaver) and Elizabeth [née Hammond].  Family Connections: Father to Victor Reginald Ives [b1916] and brother to Arthur Abraham Ives [b1878]. Home: Hall Cottage, Mayland, Maldon, Essex (1891), Burnham St Mary, Essex (1901), 3 Rooksacre Cottages, Sompting, Sussex (1921) to [1968]. Occupation: Market Gardener (1911), Cowman for P. Philips [Farmer] (1921), Gardener (1939). Married: Edith Emily Shergold in 1909. Service Record: Fred enlisted as Dvr.42692 with XXIII Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, being posted to France on 19.8.1914 as part of 3^rd Division and seeing action at the Battles of Mons, Le Cateau and the Marne and the Aisne in 1914 and during the Somme Offensive of 1916. He was issued with the Clasp and Roses to his 1914 Star.[11] Died: Sompting, Sussex on 12.2.1968.[12]

Ives, Victor Reginald – Born: Ashey, Isle of Wight on 24.5.1916.[13] Parents: Frederick Ives of Long Melford [see his record above] and Edith Emily [née Shergold]. Family Connections: Nephew of Arthur Abraham Ives [b1878]. Home: 3 Rooksacre Cottages, Sompting, Sussex (1921 to 1939), 14 Meadowview Road, Sompting [1962].[14] Occupation: Nurseryman (1939). Married: Dorothy M. Dyer in 1957. Service Record: Victor enlisted as Signaller N^o.2591237 with the Royal Corps of Signals and posted to Greece in March 1941 as part of ‘W’ Force, a small expeditionary force made up of British and ANZAC troops. After a brief campaign against overwhelming enemy troops made a fighting retreat to the coast. Ives was wounded during the retreat or subsequent evacuation from the port of Kalamata in Greece, falling into German hands later held in Stalag IX-C at Bad Sulza near Leipzig from 28.5.1941. His injuries were such that he was repatriated in November 1943.[15] Died: Worthing, Sussex in 1999.

Notes – [1] Date of birth from his RN Record.  [2] Royal Navy Record [TNA – ADM 188/285974].  [3] Britain, Merchant Seamen, 1918-1941 [THA ref: BT 350/332251].  [4] 1939 Register for Harwich, Essex. [5] Recorded as Percy Reynolds on the UK Census for 1901. [6] Occupation taken from Kelly’s Directory for Suffolk 1916. [7] For the Tribunal’s ruling see Suffolk and Essex Free Press 11.10.1916. [8] Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].  [9] National Probate Calendar.  [10] 1939 Register.  [11] World War I Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923, Medal Roll [WO 329], and Medal Index Card [WO 372].  [12] National Probate Calendar.  [13] 1939 Register.  [14] 1962 Electoral Roll.  [15] War Office: German Record cards of British and Commonwealth Prisoners of War and some Civilian Internees, Second World War [WO416/192/483].